S.M. Jain
The rational, right path to salvation has been very clearly codified by Umaswami (Umaswati) in the very first stanza in his treatise" Tatvarth Sutra" or "Moksha Shastra",
सम्यग्दर्शन ज्ञान चारित्राणि मोक्ष मार्गः॥1॥
[ Rational belief, knowledge and conduct all three called Jewels (Ratnatraya) combined as if one simultaneously only leads to salvation ]
Here in the original Sanskrit stanza there is deliberate grammatical mistake of using "मार्गः" (Singular) instead of correct "मार्गाः" (Plural) to emphasise combined simultaneous oneness of the three. There has been tendency to detach particularly conduct (Charitra) and stress only rational belief and knowledge. It is strange that Samyakdarshan (Rationality) has been attributed to a non-observer of basic five vows (Avrati Samyakdrishti). Acharya Samantbhadra clearly states in Ratnakarand Shravakachar that Jain householder must observe five vows of Nonviolence, Truth, Non-stealing. Non-possession beyond necessity and marital celibacy and should not take non-vegetarian food, alcohol and other drugs and honey.
मद्य मांस मधु त्यागै सहाणु व्रत पंचकम्॥66॥
Other saints have even relaxed these essential attributes. This is because of laxity and falling moral standards with passage of time.
